MILTON — Before Nute High School students in the Class of 2012 received their diplomas Friday, class Valedictorian Devon Locke gave his classmates three final pieces of advice.

"Make good choices, do what you want to do, and finally be happy," said Locke during the graduation ceremony at the high school on Friday evening. "Make your life what you want it to be."

After shaking hands with School Board Chairwoman Ann Walsh and Superintendent Gail Kushner, 33 graduating seniors, wearing traditional purple and white gowns, walked on stage and received their diplomas.

Addressing the new graduates, Principal Aaron Bronson reminded the Class of 2012 that setting goals and working hard to achieve them is the blueprint to success.

"The real world, as we call it, is exciting and challenging," said Bronson.

In her salutatorian address to her classmates, graduate Whitney Brooks said she has faith that her classmates will be successful, whether they go on to attend college, serve in the military, or join the workforce right after high school.

"We are all unique. We are a class full of talent," said Brooks.

In her salutatorian address, Brooks thanked her teachers, family, and Penny Baker, the class adviser, who Brooks said tied the Class of 2012 together and was "like a second mother to many of us."

"I still cannot grasp the fact we are done with high school," said Brooks. "I've had to pinch myself a few times to make sure, but I can assure you, this is real life."

Brooks said that throughout the years, the small size of Nute High School has helped students to not only build relationships with each other, but also with teachers and faculty.

Commencement speaker Allison Lowe, an art teacher at Nute Middle/High School, said she has seen the graduating class mature from youngsters who fell asleep in class to young adults.

She encouraged the Class of 2012 to challenge themselves, overcome fear, and face the unknown, as graduates prepare to start a new chapter in life.

Graduate Kyla Soderlund, 19, said the best experience in high school was becoming friends with 18-year-old Kaytlynn Baker, who also graduated Friday. Soderland, who joined Nute High School three years ago, plans to study early childhood education at Granite State College this fall.

"It's a great sensation to know it is a new chapter in your life," said 18-year-old Nute High School graduate Charlie Steffiare, who plans to apply to a community college in the near future.

Reflecting on the past four years, graduate Christopher Coombs, 18, said that being prom king his junior year, as well as playing basketball for the school, are memories that will stick with him for years.

"I feel awesome," said Coombs, who said he is grateful for the relationships he has had at Nute High School. "This is the best experience of my life."